News

Kentucky Speedway to Present Energetic Prerace Concert Line-up

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

All concerts included with race ticket!

See Chuck Wicks May 9!

Party with Pat Green June 13!

Crank it up with Chris Cagle July 18!

Rock with Carolina Liar Aug. 1!

Kentucky Speedway will present an energetic prerace concert line-up featuring country music artists Chuck Wicks, Pat Green and Chris Cagle along with modern rock group Carolina Liar during its four-weekend 2009 season.

Wicks will be part of the eighth season of ABC Television's "Dancing with the Stars" which makes its debut Monday, March 9 at 8:00 p.m. (Eastern). The 29-year-old artist will open the Kentucky Speedway season Saturday, May 9 before ARCA RE/MAX Series drivers take the green flag for the "Drive Smart. Buckle-Up! Kentucky 150." Billboard Magazine's 2007 "Breakout Artist of the Year" saw his Top-10 debut single "Stealing Cinderella" spend more than 25 weeks on the publication's "Top Country Singles Chart." His first collection, "Starting Now," made its debut at No. 7 on Billboard's "Top Country Albums Chart" in January 2008 and he supported the launch by joining Brad Paisley's "Bonfires and Amplifiers Tour." Wicks' third single from the album, "Man of the House," jumped six spots to No. 41 on Billboard's Feb. 28, 2009 "Hot Country Songs Chart." The former valet parking attendant from Smyrna, Del., writes more than 100 songs annually and penned 10 of 11 songs on his inaugural effort including the popular second single "All I Ever Wanted."

Hard-charging country artist Pat Green will add to the energy of the speedway's NASCAR Nationwide Series weekend Saturday, June 13 when he takes ownership of the "Meijer 300 Presented by Ritz" prerace concert stage. His 10th collection titled "What I'm For" was released on Jan. 27, 2009 and made its debut on the Billboard "Top Country Album Chart" at No. 2 on Feb. 14. The album's lead single "Let Me" spent 34 weeks on the magazine's "Hot Country Songs Chart" and rose to No. 12 spot. The collection's second single titled "Country Star," also is making its way up the current country charts. The Texas-born artist's rambunctious stage presence helped him build a passionate fan base that propelled him to national prominence by staunchly supporting works such as his August 2006 "Cannonball" release which featured the popular singles "Feels Just Like it Should" and "Dixie Lullaby." His 2003 collection "Wave on Wave" also made its debut at No. 2 on the Billboard "Top Country Album Chart" thanks in part to the popular title single.
Hit maker Chris Cagle will bring his full-throttle style to Sparta, Ky., Saturday, July 18 to be part of an ARCA RE/MAX Series - NASCAR Camping World Truck Series doubleheader race day. The Louisiana-born artist known for delivering his upbeat songs and soulful ballads with a passionate from-the-heart style earned a top 10 hit in 2008 with the single "What Kinda Gone" from his fourth collection titled "My Life's Been a Country Song." He first made an impact on the country charts in 2001 with the singles "Laredo," "I Breathe In, I Breathe Out," "Country by the Grace of God" and "Who Needs the Whiskey" along with the title track from his debut release "Play it Loud." He next hit the charts in 2003 with the singles "What a Beautiful Day" and "Chicks Dig It" from his self-titled collection. Other Cagle favorites include "Miss Me Baby," "You Might Want to Think About It," and "Wal-Mart Parking Lot" from his 2005 "Anywhere But Here" album.

Speedway fans will experience a change of pace Saturday Aug. 1 when the six-man modern rock group Carolina Liar entertains before the IndyCar Series "Meijer Indy 300 Presented by Red Baron and Edy's" and Firestone Indy Lights "Kentucky Indy Lights 100." The group combines talents of South Carolina songwriter and vocalist Chad Wolf with an all-Swedish ensemble made up of keyboardist Johan Carlsson, guitarists Rickard Goransson and Jim Almgren Gandra, bassist Erik Haager and drummer Max Grahn. The sextet released its debut "Coming to Terms" collection May 20, 2008 and its single "I'm Not Over" rose to No. 3 on Billboard's "Hot Modern Tracks Chart." The song also was prominent on the magazine's "Top Heatseekers Chart." The group's second single, "Show Me What I'm Looking For," rose to No. 40 on the "Hot Modern Tracks Chart."

All concerts will be included with the purchase of a race ticket.

Four affordable season ticket plans are available now through the "Tickets" pages of the track's official Web site, http://www.kentuckyspeedway.com, by phone at 859-578-2300 or by visiting the Kentucky Speedway ticket offices in either Ft. Mitchell, Ky., at 400 Buttermilk Pike, Suite 100 near the Montgomery Inn restaurant or the track Fan Center located off of Interstate 71 Exit 57 and Ky. Hwy. 35 N in Sparta, Ky.

Single race tickets also are on sale now. The speedway is offering several "Big Deals" for the 2009 season with select event tickets starting at $20. "Big Deals" and tickets can be reserved online, by phone at 888-652-RACE (7223) or through the Ft. Mitchell and Fan Center ticket offices or Meijer stores.

Kentucky Speedway is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which, through its subsidiary companies, is a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States. For more information, visit http://www.speedwaymotorsports.com.